New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-10
POLITICAL HINTS FROM TENNESSEE.
,rp,-prIcAy SENTIMENT AND REPUBLICAN VOTES

,-,trc.x srvTISyNT AND REPUBLICAN VOTES
rur NEED AND OPPORTUNITY OF A LEADER
tvpow AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
N,suv1rIF Tenn May 2-Tennessee is ke-
nublioan state and has been for number OF years.
The Northern Republican cannot understand why IL
has NOT been carried for the Republican candidates
In 1880 Tennessee had over 100000 non-voters' IN
1884 that number reduced to S3,OOO. IN inc
same time the Republican gain was 34oo3' Wnne 'no
Democratic gain was only 1O4. The Republicans
coud have carried the State In 1884 had the proper
effort been made but there organization ana ITO
ATTEMPT at one. Republicans were Indifferent. ihey
had been beaten 30 often the polls that they did not
On into the election with determination TO WIN lhey
had the votes but not the true grit to get them out
The Democracy has this great advantage III lehnes
ace The mountaiueer is naturally Republican, put
he is remote from OF information and from tne
str of campaigns, while the other hand, by Visiting
nearly every village in the South. 1t Will De lounu
that nine out of every ten sorekeepers are Democrats
In these stores politics is discussed and here the seeds
90 Democrncy are sown and take root The dema-
oopue gets his work and false doctrines are 'augn'
The result is that in majority OF the southern to"S
the Democracy is in the majority. Moreover .no
moro intelligent Democrats visit the moun'aii us
trics and get cut their voters election day Inc
ponubI,cans being without organization and money,
make no effort to get out theirs
Then again, many Northern men resident mere
either through Indifference undue iberaity Oh pol
ifcal principles az applied to local quesuons stay a'
a
thew nut the local Political machinery into the hands
of the Democrats who work 1t tor all it is worth.
This IL especially true in nearly oil OF the hepuocn
strongholds. In many OF the counties IN IennesSc'
where the Republican majorties 90 up INTO the nun
Srads tho county officers arc all Democrats. I6ey
are elected by Republican votes or Republican ln4uer
ece Thus in every local election IN many i3ealltes,
Renubcaas arm the opposition with q cluo Win
Which their heads are broken at future elections 10
n Northern man, who has been accustomed 10 htahung
M and lighting the enemy face TO tace ana eontes',nt
md hIa IL nnt N
Tire are thousands of native Southeruers who have
no use Tor improvements who regard tne oulus.s %
railroads innovation and OF pose thelr oonstlug
ton Along the line Of the Cincinnati Southern roau,
mot hundred miles north OF Chattanooga, the naves
were ready oppose the bull ing OF tha fOau NJ tho
noint of the shotgun. The given for this OPP
nosition was that it would destroy their hunting
grounds. These people live as did their grahdIdtners
n hundred years ago. Many of them 1--we by hunting
and making moOnshine whiskey Ihey thoiSht "nen
Grover Cleveland elected to the Presidency tnat
they would be allowed to make uhc'I w inJ ,ns
moiested There is hardly term OF the Cnlteh states
Court held that more than score oil mem ar hoe
indicted tried and sentenced TO prison. In lennessee
any kind OF a ballot is legal thousands OF EoieIs
a1not read and these men voted by the politicians
like so many cattle They vote but do not know wnat
they are voting for whom The coored mih usuaIIy
vote. the Republican ticket, but hundreds oil them
tbtn they are voting the Republican candidates
when they deposit Democratic ballots. great many
votes controlled by tue owners o xoe as
their landlords dictate they are informed that they
must leave the promises. OF course this tremendous
pressure has its effect -. ~, l.. A..
The most hop eml sign OF Republican growth In the
South, and especially in Tennessee IS among tne
natives who formerly belonged to the ola lig party
They believe in Republican principles and doctrines
INT that old prejudice against the negro y IN the way
They ara Republicans in principle and Democrats IN
prejudice and votes. There are at present at least
three Democratic newspapers LA tennessee that adVo
cote Republican doctrines M strongly they were
ou,poken Republican sheets, but when 1t comes TO an
election they always support tho Democratic cand
dates They argue in favor OF n protective tarlh Out
aid In the election OF xhom they know to be Tree
traders just at the present time boih political
parties are in chaotic state. Neither OF them mas any
acknowledged leadership. What Is needed above
everything rise is strong Republican organlzatonT
n mae AT the helm who will make thorough kep1on-
cans ont of the lukewarm Repubicans ana teaeh them
the necessity OF standing up earlessly TO hght TOT
their principles There never such an oPp0r-
iunity as is presented in Tennessee Tor hepu' II
can growth with q brave, sagaeous leader man ID
needed however who will put backbone into his own
party adhereuts. That is quite as necessary as 10 con
vert luke " arm Democrats TO the Republican ialth
Tennessee ought to he carried In 1893 but II WIZ not
be will, ut thorough organization and personal can
vaAs of the State